Associate Planner I/II

This position is open until filled with a first review date of 7/06/2026 The City of Palm Desert provides exemplary and sustainable services, amenities and programs for the benefit of the local and surrounding communities. When you interact with a City employee, you will find our collaborative, driven and efficient staff working together to provide strategic solutions for the community and each other. We are a city focused on external and internal customer service and try to find a way to say “yes,” while not compromising the City’s or our own integrity. Core Values Integrity Stewardship Service Community Innovation Teamwork Our employees are passionate about innovation, collaboration and growth, which is supported by the City’s Council and Executive Team. We are an environment that thrives on making changes, pivoting quickly, and is full of movers and shakers. We are constantly striving to improve processes and better our approach so that we can better support the needs of the City. If you have growth mindset and find change exciting, the City of Palm Desert may be your ideal working environment! The Opportunity The City of Palm Desert is seeking a knowledgeable and motivated Associate Planner to join its Community Development team. This position plays a key role in coordinating land use processes, including land combinations and divisions, preparing clear and well-supported staff reports for development projects, and conducting in‑depth research and analysis to support the City’s comprehensive planning and zoning efforts. The ideal candidate will bring experience in municipal planning, strong analytical and communication skills, and a solid understanding of land use principles, development review, and community engagement. This is an excellent opportunity to contribute to the thoughtful and sustainable growth of Palm Desert. Appointment to this position is expected to fall within the salary range of $88,878 to $107,994 annually; however, the final amount will be carefully determined based on the candidate’s knowledge, skills, qualifications, and an evaluation of internal equity within the organization. Exceptional candidates with highly relevant experience and credentials may be considered for compensation above the anticipated hiring range. Under general direction, performs a full range of journey‑level professional duties in support of the Development Services Department’s current and advanced planning functions; administers zoning regulations; performs a variety of assignments in the preparation and distribution of planning reports; processes development projects; performs technical reviews of land use and permit applications, environmental impact reports, and environmental statements; provides customer service and serves as a liaison to applicants, developers, consultants, the general public, and outside organizations and agencies regarding City codes, policies, standards, and processes; and provides technical and professional assistance to City committees, commissions, and the City Council; and performs related duties as assigned. Supervision Received and Exercised Receives supervision from supervisory or management staff. Does not directly or indirectly supervise other professional staff but may provide work direction and training to subordinate technical or clerical employees. Classification Associate Planner I: This is the Journey‑level classification in the Planner series. Incumbents independently manage projects and conduct studies related to current, advanced, and/or environmental planning activities. Employees at this level receive only occasional instruction or assistance as new or unusual situations arise and are fully aware of the operating procedures and policies of the work unit. Assignments are given with general guidelines and incumbents are responsible for establishing objectives, timelines, and methods to deliver work products. Work is periodically reviewed upon completion for soundness, appropriateness, and conformity to policy and requirements; however, the methodologies used in arriving at the end results are not reviewed in detail. This class is distinguished from the Associate Planner II in that the latter is responsible for organizing, assigning, and supervising the work of planning staff, in addition to performing the more complex, long‑term planning and project management assignments. Associate Planner II: This is the Senior Level classification in the Planner series. Incumbents work at advanced professional levels on complex and specialized assignments. Incumbents at this level receive only occasional instruction or assistance as new or unusual situations arise and are fully aware of the operating procedures and policies of the work unit. Assignments are given with general guidelines and incumbents are responsible for establishing objectives, timelines, and methods to deliver work products. Work is occasionally reviewed upon completion for soundness, appropriateness, and conformity to policy and requirements; however, the methodologies used in arriving at the end results are not reviewed in detail. Management reserves the right to add, modify, change, or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations where appropriate so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job. Positions at the Associate Planner I level may perform some of these duties and responsibilities in a learning capacity. Key Responsibilities Performs professional level duties in the development, implementation, and modification of the City’s current and advanced planning and development programs and projects. Analyzes specific project applications and determines applicability of planning, zoning, and building codes, and the types of modifications that might be needed to meet city requirements and other types of regulatory and design standards. Provides customer service and serves as liaison to City staff, applicants, developers, consultants, the general public, and outside organizations and agencies regarding City codes, policies, standards, processes, and requirements over the phone or at the public counter; responds to zoning and land use questions. Serves as project manager on planning and land development projects, including processing applications, reviewing plans for routine to complex commercial, industrial, residential, and mixed‑use projects, and signing permits; writes staff reports and collects supporting documentation for submission to the Planning Commission, Cultural Resources Preservation Committee, Architectural Review Commission, City Council, and other committees and commissions; schedules and facilitates meetings and community hearings; and monitors project implementation to ensure conformance with approved plans, conditions, and mitigation measures. Receives and reviews development proposals for zoning variances, conditional use permits, precise plans, development agreements, General Plan Amendments, tentative tracts, zone changes, and related proposals; ensures compliance with General Plan and related codes and regulations. Evaluates land uses and impacts in the context of site‑plan review and development standards; prepares environmental determinations, including negative declarations as part of environmental analysis. Administers or conducts planning studies for assigned projects, involving staff or consultants; assures that project tasks and timelines are achieved in accordance with department standards. Advices developers, contractors, and the general public on planning, zoning, and land use regulations, and historical, current, and future planning projects. Conducts a variety of current and long‑range planning studies; researches and analyzes social, economic, population, and land use data and identifies trends; develops recommendations and prepares written reports on various planning activities. Prepares or assists in preparing and reviewing environmental impact reports in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA); prepares written initial studies, negative declarations, and reports related to assigned planning studies and projects. Participates in the development and preparation of requests for proposals for professional planning‑related services, including project scope documents and contractor agreements. Performs complex research and analysis; performs major planning and zoning studies for development; investigates planning problems while considering legal and public relations aspects, and planning and makes presentations of findings. Conducts presentations to the Planning Commission, Cultural Resources Preservation Committee, Architectural Review Commission, City Council, and other committees and commissions. Conducts field inspections of development proposals, land use surveys, and related planning projects to ensure completion of construction and adherence to City standards, codes, and requirements. Participates in coordinating City planning and development related activities with other City departments and with outside agencies. Participates in and/or coordinates the review and analysis of building and grading plans as well as the routing of plans for approval in accordance with the City’s plan‑check process. Researches various grants and potential funding sources; prepares and submits grant applications. Attends and participates in professional group meetings, conferences, and workshops; stays abreast of new trends and innovations in the field of urban planning. Performs duties of a disaster services worker in event of an emergency. Performs other duties as assigned. Knowledge Applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules, regulations, ordinances, standards, and procedures relevant to zoning and land use planning. Principles, practices, theories, and trends of urban, land use, and regional planning, zoning, and environmental review. Development review procedures and requirements. Operations, services, and activities of a community planning and development program. Principles and practices of project management. Principles and practices of urban planning and land development methods. Recent developments, current literature, and sources of information related to planning, zoning, and environmental review. Practices of researching planning and zoning issues, evaluating alternatives, making sound recommendations, and preparing and presenting effective staff reports. Geographic, socio‑economic, transportation, political, and other elements related to city planning. Principles of advanced mathematics and their application to planning work. Statistical and research methods and techniques of effective technical report preparation and presentation. Record‑keeping principles and procedures. Modern office practices, methods, computer equipment and applications related to the work. English usage, grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and punctuation. Techniques for effectively representing the City in contacts with governmental agencies, community groups, and various business, professional, educational, regulatory, and legislative organizations. Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and City staff. Ability Interpret, apply, explain, and ensure compliance with federal, state, and local laws, rules, regulations, ordinances, standards, and procedures relevant to zoning and planning. Perform a full range of professional level planning duties involved in developing, implementing, and modifying the City’s planning function. Interpret planning and zoning programs to the general public. Identify and respond to issues and concerns of the public, City Council, Planning Commission, Cultural Resources Preservation Committee, and other stakeholders. Manage current and advanced planning projects. Prepare and analyze technical and administrative reports, statements, and correspondence. Assess, monitor, and report environmental impact on and of various City programs and services. Independently conduct research projects, evaluate alternatives, and make sound recommendations. Organize and prioritize a variety of projects and multiple tasks in an effective and timely manner. Read and interpret architectural and engineering plans and specifications. Prepare clear and effective reports, correspondence, and other written material. Make accurate arithmetic and statistical computations. Effectively represent the department and the City in meetings with governmental agencies, community groups, and various business, professional, and regulatory organizations and individuals. Establish and maintain accurate databases, records, and files. Organize own work, set priorities, and meet critical time deadlines. Effectively use computer systems, software, and modern business equipment to perform a variety of work tasks. Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy, procedural, and legal guidelines. Communicate effectively in English, both orally and in writing. Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work. Education and Experience Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be: Associate Planner I/II: Equivalent to graduation from an accredited four‑year college or university with major coursework in urban planning, environmental studies, engineering, or a related field. Associate Planner I: Two (2) years of general professional and technical planning experience is preferred. Associate Planner II: Four (4) years of increasingly responsible planning experience equivalent to that of an Associate I in the City of Palm Desert. Licenses and Certifications Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid California driver’s license by the time of appointment may be required for certain assignments. #J-18808-Ljbffr City-of-Palm-Deser